A collection to celebrate the great game of tennis and its little-known significance in Turkish culture and history. With pieces for both men and women, the new collection spans classic tennis looks like polo shirts, pleated tennis skirts and sports shorts, along side contemporary, quintessentially Les Benjamins-style pieces like bomber jackets and graphic branded t-shirts.
The new collection takes inspiration from Turkey's long connection with tennis, which began in Istanbul’s Tarabya neighbourhood in the 1800s. The neighbourhood was home to British Levantines, who, as tennis enthusiasts, came together to launch the first-known tournament titled the ‘Challenge Cup’. The genteel tennis competition was held in the gardens of the Summer Palace Hotel on its two tennis courts and was advertised across the city, gaining attention from further afield. During the Ottoman era, the 'Challenge Cup' became the region’s very own Wimbledon and was a much-anticipated occasion in the sporting calendar.
The 27-piece collection combines traditional, classic court styles with creative new designs, playing with breathable, tech fabrics, jersey, stripes, tracksuits, polo necks and the brand’s signature bold prints. The collection’s central colours are white, black and green, reminiscent of manicured lawns, hard courts and traditional tennis attire. Men’s collection highlights include the sleek black Jeffrey Tracksuit playfully branded with‘Les Benjamins Sports Club’, a striped William Rugby Polo, tan William Bomber Jacket and t-shirts in white, black and racing green. Typical of Les Benjamins’ collections, graphics represent aspects of the collection, and designs spin off the ‘Les Benjamins Sports Club’ theme with tennis balls and old-time tennis players. Key womenswear pieces include the Margaret Tech Polo–cropped for added appeal and modernity–and the functional and flattering Margaret Bra, which pair with the white tennis skirt or black tennis shorts. The stylish white Sandy Dress with a polo neck and pleated skirt is a must for something more classic.
